'Tis the season to be jolly.
I am wishing you best for the holidays, and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Happ-E-Quote:) We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone--but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy. From "The confidence Course: Seven Steps to Self-Fulfillment." By Walter Anderson

Happ-E-Meeting:) The Happiness Club just had a wonderful meeting.
If your haven't experienced a meeting you are missing a very wonderful event. The topic was Happy Resolutions, and Lynette Turner gave us a wonderful presentation that you can read below.

Lynette Turner's New Year's Resolution/New Year's "Revelations."
For me the biggest most powerful New Year's Resolution any one can make is to embrace the decision to be happy. To live a happy existence every day. For me I have discovered what I call "ah-ha moments." Revelations that help remind me that I deserve to live my life as a happy person, and so do you. This includes:
1) I have permission to empower myself (to do whatever I need to do to take care of myself. This is not a selfish act. It's the kindest thing you can do for yourself and those you care about)
2) I have permission to smile for no particular reason (I can be happy and smile just because. I don't have to have a particular reason)
3) I can feel gratitude for not just the big things, but the small things in life too
4) I deserve to have peace of mind (you needn't take on all the troubles of the world, all by yourself, all at once)
5) I have permission to be responsible for my own happiness and not anyone else's (We can't "make" anyone else happy. Each person has to make that decision for themselves. The best and most powerful thing we can do is show others by way of example what it look/feels like to be happy)
6) I have permission not to feel guilty (Guilt serves no purpose), it only saps energy we could put to otherwise good use. I am reminded of this quote "Guilt is the tension we feel to change our past, present or future for someone else's sake" by Rich Bach, American Writer, Adventure Pilot. So let guilt fly away. It has no redeeming qualities.

These are a few of the things I do that help me stay in the moment of being a happy person. I hope they will also help you. Peace, light and happiness, Love, Lynette Turner

Happ-E-Purpose:) To remind you to make the "Happiness Decision." You now have the next meeting date happiness information, and a copy of the Be Happy Zone Articles published twice a month in the Fairfield Citizen-News. Read today's article called: CHOICE POWER!

Happ-E-Mail:) I just wanted to send you a little note and say thanks for welcoming me into the Happiness Club. The meeting was wonderful and I came out of it more positive than when I came in. (If that's possible!)

I'd like to offer a thought. Part of my life philosophy is that we are the only creatures put on earth with the gift of choice. No other creature has it. We have the ability to choose who we want to be and how we will live our lives. We also have the ability to change our minds. If one thing doesn't work for us, we can change or modify it. It's that simple. We have the choice to be happy or miserable. I don't know about anyone else, but I choose happiness! It's healthier and expends a lot less energy than being miserable. And besides, if I were miserable, I wouldn't have met all those great people at the meeting! And I certainly wouldn't have met you!

One other thing before I go. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and an optimistic new year!! Now that a new year is upon us, it's like getting a clean slate. You can start out fresh with a new attitude and new life philosophies. Nothing is impossible! Don't let anyone drag you down or tell you that you can't do it. Believe in yourself and you can accomplish great things. This can and will be your year!!!! - God Bless! Lisa

Happ-E-Quote:) The place to be happy is here, the time to be happy is now. - Robert Ingersoll

Happ-E-Mail:) I printed your last email and carried it with me ... as a talisman, I didn't need it often but it helped as I set off from London in a rental car, not quite sure of the road or my path, I lived the moment, and one after the next, got better than the last.
Lionel, I had the best two weeks of my life! I lived "The Happiness Decision" and every moment was golden. From my first wrong turn on a roundabout leading me to an Architects office, to the last three hours in the airport awaiting departure. On greeting someone, with a smile on my face, and "I'm having such a good time..." opened doors like magic! In Salisbury it led me threw a course of events that led to a private tour of the cathedral spire, the tallest in England!
Your apostle in happiness, Jim Comst

Happ-E-Quote:) "You are positive, creative and happy to the degree to which you eliminate negative emotions from your life."
- Brian Tracy

Peace Meditation:) Pamala Clark would like to invite anyone interested in taking part in our peace meditation on Tuesday, December 18, from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at 63 Unquowa Road, in Fairfield, CT. to please call her (Pamela) for details at home: 203 221-1507 or cell: 856-6624.

Happ-E-Mail:) Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing your caring words and thoughts. Please let us hear from you, spread your happiness, that is the surest way of Being Happy!

Happ-E-Quote:) Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action. - Benjamin Disraeli

Happ-E-Mail:) Hi Lionel, my uncle sends out motivational messages on occasion and when I read the one below, I thought of you. What he's saying echoes your message on happiness and I thought I would pass it along. Maybe other people are beginning to pick up on this! Keep up that happy work! Regards, Bill Kennedy

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET.
The realities of life result from many outside factors,
none of which you can control.
Your attitude, however, reflects the way in which
you evaluate what's happening to you.

It is not your situation, it's your reaction
to the situation that's important.
Things always seem to turn out best for those people
who can make the best out of the way things turn out.

Life at any time can become difficult.
Life at any time can become easy.
It all depends upon how you adjust yourself to life.
You cannot always control your circumstances.
But you can always think positive thoughts.

There is nothing either good or bad,
only your thinking makes it so.

Happ-E-Meeting:) Join us for our next meeting of the HAPPINESS CLUB will present: "HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF" by Lionel Ketchian, and Lynette Turner.
Don't miss this valuable meeting and meet wonderful people using the benefits of happiness in their lives.

Topic:) "HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF"
Date:) January 10, 2001
Time:) 7:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Place:) Fairfield Public Library
In the:) Rotary Room
Address:) 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06430

Open to the Public and Admission is Free
Call Lionel Ketchian (203) 258-7777 or E-mail: PrintLRK@aol.com
http://www.happinessclub.com

Directions to the Fairfield Public Library
From New York - I- 95, Exit 21, Mill Plain Road. Right at bottom of ramp. Under railroad overpass make a left at light (Post Rd.), 1/2 mile on right at the corner.
From New Haven - I- 95, Exit 22, North Benson Road. Left at bottom of ramp. Under railroad overpass make a left at light (Post Rd.), 1/2 mile on right at the corner.

BE HAPPY ZONE
Fairfield Citizen-News
December 5, 2001

CHOICE POWER!
By Lionel Ketchian

Why choose happiness? Because that's what you really want. When something makes you unhappy, the reason you feel that way is because you think someone or something took your happiness away from you. You have let yourself become a victim. Feeling and thinking like a victim does not work. When you are unhappy you become a victim because you think about your problem and not about your choices.

You're unhappy because you have a problem, and you have cut yourself off from the choices you have available. The problem becomes bigger than life as it consumes and overwhelms you. You feel there is nothing you can do about it because your state of unhappiness directs you to see life in only that way. Once you think unhappily, once you think in terms of the problem and not the solution, you disempower yourself from dealing with the problem.

In a happy state you can deal with any problem because you can better see what choices you have with clarity. This clarity enables you to deal with your problem. You can only make the best choice available to you. But first you need to know what your choices are. Happiness can allow you to see these choices very clearly. If you have no choice then you have something you do not like. It's not that you really have a problem. Problems have solutions.

Take a look at your problem. Do you have a choice about your problem? What choice or choices do you have regarding the problem? If you do not have a choice, why make it a problem? If you don't accept the problem you are going to be unhappy. If the problem is just a part of life and you don't accept it, than you will suffer as a result of your reaction to you're own negative thinking. This is also your choice, but you have another choice … to live and enjoy your life, just be happy!

The way to empower yourself is to decide to be happy no matter what. Choose happiness over everything else. This gives you the power to deal with life and deal with yourself. Happiness is a powerful strategy for those who practice it. When you're happy it gives you the awareness to realize the choices you have and what option is right for you. What is the real power do you have in doing this? You have power over yourself, and this is very important my friend, because being happy is authentic power.

We all know that money can't buy happiness, because happiness is a decision. Happiness is a decision only you can make. The happiness decision is just a one step method, not three steps, or twelve steps. Who can remember so many? But everybody can remember just one step.

All you have to do is remember that one step: Choose happiness in every moment in your life over anything that can take your happiness away! Now that you have made the happiness decision you realize that happiness is where you're headed. Choose happiness instead of allowing anything to upset you. Once you have make the happiness decision it becomes easier and easier being happy from one moment to the next.

Have you noticed how hard it is for you to control anyone or anything? Well, you can control yourself by lightening up, relaxing, and laughing about things, having fun, and enjoying life. Being happy allows you to learn that you can control yourself, and not let anyone or anything else control you. Learn to let go of the things you can't change. This way you do not let them change you. Live with happiness and allow the experience of being happy to work for you.

Do you know the reason people do not live with happiness? Many people are not even aware of happiness as being a choice they can make. Once you start learning that being happy is a choice, you may think you don't deserve it. Some people do not even love themselves enough to treat themselves with happiness. BE HAPPY, take my word for it, YOU'RE WORTH IT!

Why be happy? Because it's the best way to live, and it's the best way to give. You can't give away what you haven't got. When you're happy, you start to share your happiness with others. Show them your happiness and let them model this behavior from you. They will become aware of happiness through you. Others will see the wisdom of choosing to be happy for themselves. It is all about controlling yourself, not others. People can't contaminate you with their unhappiness. To the contrary you will infect them with your happiness.

This is the reason we have Happiness Club meetings. Our next meeting is on December 13, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. The topic is "Happy Resolutions," and will be held in the Rotary Room, at the Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road. There is no charge for the meeting.

Learn to change what you can, and accept what you can't change. Being Happy allows you to tap into your own wisdom and common sense. Choosing happiness will make a big difference in your life … and a big difference to the world.

Lionel Ketchian is the founder of the Happiness Club. He can be reached at PrintLRK@aol.com. The Web site is www.HappinessClub.com

Put on your happy face and share a smile -- just forward this Newsletter to all your pals. They'll thank you for it! It's FREE, and easy to subscribe. All you need to do is send an e-mail to subscribe at: Happinessclub@aol.com, or online at: http://www.HappinessClub.com

Happ-E-Quotes:) The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell and a Hell of Heaven. - John Milton

Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible. - Rev. Norman Vincent Peale

When it gets dark enough you can see the stars. - Lee Salk


I'm grateful to you for subscribing, reading, participating and spreading happiness.

Practice Being Happy:)
Lionel

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